Coming up will be interviews with Homeless Action and Advocacy Coalition activist Toby Nixon about Freedom SleepOut #28 last Tuesday, Alexis on bad conditions at Page Smith Community House, Louise Drummond and Phil Posner on Upcoming Trials for Being Outside City Hall “After Hours”, “Mad Mike the Wonder Dog” Balderos fresh out of prison, and Steve Pleich with the latest on Don Lane’s Sleeping Ban Repeal organizing. Broadcasts at 101.1 FM, streams at www.freakradio.org , archives at http://www.radiolibre.org/brb/
Category Archives: HOT ISSUES
Another Storm–Another Sleep-Out! The 28th Tuesday Sidewalk Protest Outside Santa Cruz City Hall
| Title: | Storms Over Santa Cruz: Freedom SleepOut #28 at City Hall |
| START DATE: | Tuesday January 19 |
| TIME: | 5:00 PM – 5:00 AM |
| Location Details: | |
| 809 Center St.–in front of City Hall and the cover of the porches of adjacent buildings in the wake of a heavy rainstorm. Some will be spending the night on the cold concrete of the nearby sidewalks supporting survival rights for homeless people on the streets of Santa Cruz. over the harassment of First Alarm Security thugs and other “law and order” homeless-o-phobes. |
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| Event Type: | Protest |
| Private Warming Center activists, using the shelter of churches, try to do the job that City authorities refuse to do–ensure basic survival shelter for unhoused folks. Meanwhile, the Freedom Sleepers begin their 28th Tuesday of Sleeping Out, outside City Hall.
Long-time local activist Steve Schnaar hit the hammer on the head when he wrote ” the [City] Council unanimously voted for the City to collaborate with the Warming Center program…. [T]his decision by the Council is really a very small offer: the use of a City building only if no church spaces are available, and only for a maximum of five nights this winter….” “[T]he same Council also voted to increase punishments for sleeping in parks, as well as making it illegal to sleep in large vehicles.” “…[T]he City kicks them while they’re down, sending police to raid their camps, increasing penalties for the “crime” of sleeping outside, and outlawing large vehicles that many people use for shelter.” “Even with respect to daytime, waking life, the City continually restricts the use of public space by homeless people downtown, and has even condoned brazen police violence against the homeless (i.e. the inaction by the City after a SCPD officer was caught on film slamming a hand-cuffed Richard Hardy face-first into the curb).” See “MLK Day Challenge to City Council to End Homeless Repression” at http://www.indybay.org/ There will also reportedly be a Warming Center offered Tuesday night with pick-up’s at the Pearl Alley area behind Joe’s Pizza from 7 – 10 PM, spearheaded by Brent Adams and Steve Pleich. Organizers “Tussle with Terror” Toby Nixon and “Push Back” Pat Colby haven’t advised me what kind of midnight refreshments will survive the storm at the Sleep-Out. But Jumbogumbo Joe Schultz is likely to come through with something hot and life-giving. Pleich also passes on word from Eureka of an Emergency Shelter Declaration (http://eureka.granicus.com/ For more photos and homeless info go to: http://www.facebook.com/ For background and some initial links see “Freedom SleepOut #27 To Follow First 2016 Council Meeting”http://www.indybay. |
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Interviews and LookBacks on Free Radio Around Homeless Struggles 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM Sunday 1-17-16
Recent interviews with Berkeley activist Cornerstone Carol Denney, Santa Barbara’s ‘Nuff Said Nancy McCradie, and Downtown Dirtdemolisher Danny on the likely death of the 24-hour bathroom on Soquel Ave, a look back at Freedom Sleepout #12 on September 30 last year, & and a far flash-back to June 1996 when Bathrobespierre’s Broadsides was broadcast “from jail”. I spent a month in lock-up for feeding folks food in San Francisco with Food Not Bombs.
The show will air at 9:30 AM Sunday 1-17 at 101.3 FM and stream at freakradio.org . You can also catch it later archived at
http://www.radiolibre.org/brb/Flashback to 1999 on the 1-14 Free Radio edition of Bathrobespierre’s Broadsides 6-8 PM
Tune in Thursday, 6-8 PM at 101.3 FM or go to www.freakradio.org. for the mix of new and old.
http://www.radiolibre.org/brb/
An update on the Tuesday 1-12-16 City Council meeting and a flash back to March 28, 1999. We’ll be replaying: Interview with a Miami ACLU attorney on the Pottinger decision in Florida that set up Safe Sleeping Zones for unhoused folks in Miami, Florida, activist David Silva struggling to change the Sleeping Ban with “Don’t Sleep Tonight Night” and other protests–in the aftermath of the failure of a drive to end the Sleeping Ban in the Winter of 1998-99.
The show will archive at
http://www.radiolibre.org/brb/
New Year, Old Story: HUFF meets to document and challenge the usual anti-homeless harassment 11 AM 1-13 Sub Rosa
Huddling together after another mid-night rain at Freedom SleepOut #27, harried HUFFsters will huddle together sipping Sub Rosa Coffee and….
- reviewing City Council’s latest,
- continue prep for exposing First Alarm thuggery,
- reviewing former Mayor Lane’s latest Sleeping Ban reform proposal (at the same time as he votes to make parking “oversized” RV’s a crime),
- considering HUFF support for a proposed expansion of the Warming Center program at the Red Church,
- checking the latest responses from the Homeless (Lack of) Services Center,
- seeking out new allies
- among whatever else floats by!
Back Again for #27, Freedom SleepOut to Follow First Council Meeting of the Year
| Title: | Freedom SleepOut #27 To Follow First 2016 Council Meeting |
| START DATE: | Tuesday January 12 |
| TIME: | 5:00 PM – 5:00 AM |
| Location Details: | |
| With light rain predicted, Freedom Sleepers and their allies will congregate and crash in front of City Hall, on the adjacent sidewalks, and under the eaves of nearby closed buildings (like the Civic Auditorium and the Library) until dawn. | |
| Event Type: | Protest |
| Contact Name | Toby Nixon (posted by Norse) |
| Email Address | tobynixon [at] gms.com |
| HOMELESS-HOSTILE CITY COUNCIL RETURNS City Council chairwarmers return well-rested from a Xmas vacation while the homeless community continues to face rain, wind, cold, vigilante and police harassment, and the loss of property that comes with being vulnerable outside. FREEDOM SLEEPER GOALS Unofficial accounts suggest that former Mayor Don Lane will be following up on his October facebook intention to move that City Council strike all mention of “sleeping” from the City’s Camping Ordinance. While still providing no legal places on public property for the 1500-2000 City homeless to sleep at night. This preliminary change has long been sought by homeless activists–from HUFF and other organizations making up the Freedom Sleepers including Food Not Bombs, Homeless Advocacy and Action Coalition, Homeless Depot, and the Homeless Persons Health Project. GLOOMY AGENDA FOR THE HOMELESS The report proposes no support for such survival centers (even to the limited extent of opening up unused vacant buildings) unless the County and private sources move first. The reactionary staff reaction is no secret & holds no surprises. The staff and their captive City Council have refused to open vacant buildings throughout the wet cold winter. The two items are expected to come up between 3 and 4 PM, with the usual “we ain’t listening, but talk for two minutes if you’d like” Oral Communications around 5 PM SECURITY THUGS HARASS HOMELESS IN STORM Around 4 AM Toby reports being accosted and awakened by a sadistic First Alarm Security Guard, apparently eager to assert his authority. See “Sleepouts at Santa Cruz City Hall Advance to 2016” at http://www.indybay.org/ 24-HOUR BATHROOM SHUT RED CHURCH PASTOR LEAVING TOP POST
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Long Show–Half New, Half 2002 Flashback–for Bathrobespierre’s Broadsides on Free Radio 9:30 AM 1-10-16
Recent Interviews with Eugene’s “Dangerous John” Thielking, Psych Prisoner Rebekah Mills, a review of some of Tuesday’s first-of-the-year City Council meetings with its “no parking for big RV’s if the big Traffic Engineer sez”, little hope for Warming Centers, etc., and a replay of the August 7, 2002 show in the midst of the fight against the Downtown Ordinances with Street Spirit editor Terry Messman on “With the Homeless Behind Bars in Sacramento” and SF Coalition on Homelessness activist L.S. Wilson on the “Care Not Cash” scam backed by Gavin Newsom.
The show will air at 9:30 AM today at 101.3 FM and stream at www.freakradio.org . You can also catch it later archived at
http://www.radiolibre.org/brb/Looking Back on Freedom Sleepout #26 in Santa Cruz Last Tuesday
Sleepouts at Santa Cruz City Hall Advance to 2016
by Alex Darocy ( alex [at] alexdarocy.com )
Friday Jan 8th, 2016 6:00 PM
Friday Jan 8th, 2016 6:00 PM
Homeless individuals returned to sleep at Santa Cruz City Hall on January 5 for the twenty-sixth community sleepout. Facing intermittent downpours of rain, some slept in a large tent on the sidewalk in front of the city hall courtyard. Signs attached to the tent read, “No Sleep Til Justice.” Some individuals successfully slept under the eaves of the city offices building itself, which is a no-trespassing zone at night. One person slept directly on city hall’s brick walkway with out a blanket. Regardless of the sleep location, it is illegal to sleep in Santa Cruz anywhere in public between the hours of 11 pm and 8:30 am.
Since July 4, community members, many of them calling themselves “Freedom Sleepers,” have been organizing the sleepouts one night a week at City Hall to protest laws that criminalize homelessness and the simple act of sleeping.
Initially they attempted to sleep on the lawn in the courtyard area of city hall, which is also a no trespassing zone at night. In response, police conducted raids at nearly every one of their sleepouts. After many were cited and or arrested in the courtyard, the sleepers moved the location of their sleep-protest to the sidewalk in front of city hall. Eventually the police raids subsided.
To keep the courtyard free of sleepers, the city has instead chosen to hire all night security patrols, who often stand watch over the sleepers for hours at a time. Staying up all night has weighed heavy on some of the guards, who are employed by First Alarm Security Services. Several guards have been caught sleeping in their cars (see: http://www.indybay.org/
According to reports from the Freedom Sleepers, there were transgressions from the guards at the last sleepout as well.
Toby Nixon, of the Homeless Advocacy & Action Coalition, said that at about 4 am on January 6, a First Alarm security guard began to shine a bright light on the activists’ tent and attempted to initiate a “conversation” with the individuals inside it. After exiting the tent, Nixon says he insisted the security guard stop harassing them as they attempted to sleep. He claims the guard responded that he was working there and that it was his right to do whatever he wished.
According to Nixon the First Alarm guard left after some coaxing, and the sleepers inside made it through another night at Santa Cruz City Hall.
For more information about the Homeless Advocacy & Action Coalition, see:
http://www.facebook.com/
For more information about the Freedom Sleepers, see:
Freedom Sleepers
http://freedomsleepers.org/
http://www.facebook.com/
Alex Darocy
http://alexdarocy.blogspot.
§Two sleepers under the eaves of city hall during the January 5 protest
by Alex Darocy Friday Jan 8th, 2016 6:00 PM
Comments (Hide Comments)
Again, a tip of the hat to the dedication of phorographer/journalist Alex Darocy, whose photos involve braving wind and weather at early hours of the morning when most of us are in bed under a roof, myself included.
Sleeping on the sidewalk, as Alex points out, is itself illegal after 11 PM under the City’s Sleeping Ban (MC 6.36.010a) with a $158 fine (when court fees are tacked on). Virtually no tickets have been given out for late-night sleeping–even when folks were sleeping on what was once the grassy City Hall lawn (now torn up and taped off by vigilant city authorities).
Instead, the vast majority of the tickets were for “being in a closed area’, which was, conveniently enough, the City Hall grounds. The City Hall grounds were declared “closed” 10 PM – 6 AM in response to a peaceful but persistent (nightly) protest against the very same Sleeping Ban back in 2010 (“Challenging the Darkness: Peacecamp2010 goes on as the Repression Deepens” at http://www.indybay.org/
The decree closing City Hall grounds at night by Parks and Recreation Director Dannettee Shoemaker will come under court scrutiny in demurrers filed by activists ticketed under MC 13.04.011c (being in a closed area) in court. One such argument was already rejected by BasementLevel Baskett, the balefully biased bailiff of Courtroom 10 in the case of Monterey Max. Other cases will be appearing Departments 1 and 2 (Call HUFF–Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom–for more info at 831-423-4833).
In my recent cases, junior City Attorney Reed Gallogly has refused to dismiss two such charges, even though I’ve pointed out that the City implicitly acknowledged the accuracy of the “agenda” defense. That defense affects any and all Freedom Sleepers and their supporters who were ticketed for “being on the city hall grounds after 10 PM: whether sleeping or not. The defense involves the fact that the City’s “closed” City Council area up to two weeks ago included the only spot in the City where its 24-hour agendas were posted, making the closing a violation of the Brown (Open and Accessible Public Meetings) Act. This is true since there’s nowhere else in the City that the agendas can be viewed physically for a 72-hour period before the agendaized meetings 24 hours a day as required by law.
Gallogly’s refusal to dismiss the charges seems to be part of a hard-liner strategy designed to punish the protesters’ use of their First Amendment rights to embarrass a City which makes sleeping and survival camping a crime after 11 PM, while providing no shelter to its 1500-2000 homeless folks. The 100-cot Winter Armory shelter hardly fills the bill. Gallogly has also declined to agree to a delay in trial for one activist undergoing heart surgery, insisting he “tell it to the judge”.
TO ADD YOUR OWN COMMENTS, GO TO https://www.indybay.org/
Bathrobespierre’s Broadsides Today at 6 PM features a FLASHBACK show to January 2003
As well as stirring memories of yesteryear, the show features a long interview with the last (and well-intended) chair–Mark Halfmoon–of the Santa Cruz Citizen’s Police Review Board right after it was decapitated by the Mathews-Rotkin City Council.
This destruction of the CPRB was done, I’m thinking, to eliminate any public discussion of the Selective Enforcement issue involving harassment of poor people and musicians on Pacific Avenue under the newly-expanded Downtown Ordinances (making almost all the space illegal to table or play or vend in). The matter excited significant public anger and had passed the Board. It was supposed to reach the City Council agenda, but that was frustrated by then-Mayor Emily Reilly who improperly blocked it. Reilly is the same woman who now runs Emily’s Good Things to Eat, a bakery at Laurel and Mission. She was elected as a “progressive” and progressed to destroy even the weak board overseeing the SCPD.
The show will air at 6 PM today at 101.3 FM and stream at freakradio.org . You can also catch it later archived at
http://www.radiolibre.org/brb/Sacramento Nightly Protests Against Homeless-Hating Laws
NOTES BY NORSE: Santa Cruz’s Freedom Sleepers haven’t been alone in challenging the Sleep Deprivation laws designed to make cities “unwelcome” to poor people forced to sleep outside. Recently in Sacramento activists have sustained a nightly campaign protesting anti-homeless laws there. Santa Cruz activists are talking about resuming protests against the anti-homeless Santa Cruz “Sleeping Ban” (MC 6.36.010a) which prohibits sleeping outside in a vehicle, and/or in any non-residential structure when City Council returns from its Xmas vacation on Tuesday January 13th. Plans are also afoot among HUFF activists to picket the “First Alarm” (more accurately termed “False Alarm”) security thugs hired to scare away homeless folks from sleeping during the day in parks, at City Hall, or near the library. For more information, come to the Food Not Bombs meal at 4 PM Sunday January 11th in front of the main Post Office downtown, or call HUFF at 831-423-4833.
Homeless demand change in Sacramento’s no camping ordinance
Campers have been outside city hall for more than 20 days
UPDATED 11:49 PM PST Dec 29, 2015
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA) —Homeless campers have been outside city hall for more than 20 days, demanding the city reverse it’s camping ban. They aren’t using tents but have similar camp paraphernalia, which is illegal.
“It shouldn’t be illegal to be able to just find a safe spot to sleep,” homeless camper Mohammed Abughannan said.
Other than a few cigarette butts and chalk art on the sidewalk, the campers have been keeping the walkways clear.
“We want to let them to know that we’re not here to trash their property,” homeless camper David Sanchez said. “We’re not here to destroy it.
We’re just here to make a statement that in the future, hopefully, that this will all be resolved.”
Sacramento police said they can stay as long as they’re peaceful and keep the walkways clear. The campers said they’re not leaving until the ordinance is changed.
The city issued a statement that reads in part:
“…The Sacramento city council is not inclined to repeal the city’s anti-camping ordinance.”
“Well, then they better be ready for us to maintain our presence here for a lot longer and continue to grow,” organizer James Faygo Clark said.
“It doesn’t look good, but it doesn’t bother me,” Sacramento resident Ginger Greer said. “I mean it’s the city, you have to expect it.”
Resident Joann Sprogis, who walks by city hall every day, disagrees.
“You know, I have to live with the building codes. I don’t know why these people need to be exempt,” Sprogis said.
“It’s good. They’re trying to change some stuff because it does violate their rights, you know, the right to sleep, the right to rest,” Sacramento resident Tyler Cole said. “So, it’s good they’re trying to change that.”
Violating the ordinance is a misdemeanor. So far, there have been no arrests and no citations have been issued.
VIDEO AND COMMENTS AT http://www.kcra.com/news/
Homeless return to Sacramento City Hall under political, legal cloud
Attorney calls city ordinance prohibiting camping unconstitutional, vows lawsuit
UPDATED 7:39 PM PST Jan 03, 2016
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA) —More than a dozen homeless people are back at Sacramento City Hall on Sunday, continuing their camping protest despite weekend arrests.
Homeless advocates told KCRA 3 at least four homeless campers were arrested by Sacramento police.
Mohammed Abughannam, who was among those arrested, said the city’s plan is get homeless advocates off the grounds “because we’re an eyesore.”
Abughannam claims he broke his arm while police enforced Sacramento’s anti-camping ordinance.
In a statement to KCRA 3, Sacramento city spokeswoman Linda Tucker said: “The Sacramento Police Department takes any complaints or allegations of injury very seriously and conducts thorough investigations following all allegations. As of today, we have not received any reports or observed serious injuries related to the protests at City Hall. All arrests were digitally recorded up until the arrestee was booked into the Sacramento County Jail.”
Mike Luery/KCRA
The city offered shelter for the campers, but Abughannam said it was not an option for everyone.
“Some people can’t get in because they are susceptible to getting sick. They have anxieties about being around other people,” Abughannam said.
The homeless are supported by civil rights attorney Mark Merin, who won a multimillion settlement from the city several years ago over the confiscation of homeless property.
Merin said he plans to sue the city again for what he calls an unconstitutional anti-camping ordinance.
“It doesn’t make any sense to treat homeless people that way,” Merin said. “We need wiser decisions. We need a more enlightened leadership. And we need the public to come forward and say this is idiotic.”
The homeless protest has now become a hot-button political issue for candidates running for mayor, including Tony Lopez.
Lopez said he supports the city’s enforcement of the no-camping ordinance.
“What they’re doing is actually illegal,” Lopez said. “So the cops have to be cops. Just because you’re homeless doesn’t mean the laws don’t affect you.”
Lopez is not alone. Sacramento Mayor Pro Tem Angelique Ashby, who’s also in the mayoral race, supports the city’s ordinance, calling it an effective tool for outreach to the homeless.
“What we’re really trying to do in Sacramento, I think, is not accept sleeping outside as an acceptable form of living,” Ashby said. “We really want to get people into housing and that requires that we’re able to talk to them.”
Former Senate President Darrell Steinberg, also a candidate, said he has no problem with law enforcement officials doing their job.
“But this all misses the point,” Steinberg said. “The real point is we must have a policy in the city of Sacramento, and our greater region, that puts housing first.”
A fourth candidate for mayor, Russell Rawlings, told KCRA 3 that the city ordinance must be repealed.
On Monday, the state Legislature returns to the state Capitol with a new budget proposal designed to tackle the issue of homelessness statewide.
FOR VIDEO AND COMMENTS GO TO: http://www.kcra.com/news/
1 arrested as homeless remain outside Sacramento City Hall
Homeless group continues to protest no camping ordinance
UPDATED 2:12 PM PST Jan 04, 2016SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA) —One person was arrested Monday morning as homeless protesters remain camped out at Sacramento City Hall after police removed some of them from the area over the weekend.
Lawmakers will introduce an initiative Monday called “No Place Like Home” to tackle the homeless problem throughout the state. The proposed legislation would provide funding for homeless housing statewide.
Some of those who have camped outside City Hall for the last 27 days said help can’t come soon enough.
The Sacramento Police Department told KCRA 3 that more than 40 officers in riot gear removed protesters Saturday, and four people were arrested.
Some homeless went to warming shelters, but most returned hours later.
According to a representative for the homeless group, police were back out at 2:45 a.m. Monday telling protesters they can’t sleep in front of City Hall because it’s considered camping and in violation of a city ordinance.
Former Senate President Darrell Steinberg, who is running for Sacramento mayor, will be at Monday’s planned events in both Sacramento and Los Angeles.
“We must have a policy in the city of Sacramento and in our greater region that puts housing first as the main strategy to seriously reduce homelessness,” Steinberg said.
But not everyone agrees it is the best solution to the problem.
“The fact is services are not existing in a way that take care of people. There are not enough, for one, and they don’t work for people,” said Niki Jones, who is camping out with the group. “They are not culturally competent for people who have experienced trauma. We need to provide
services in a way that can help support people.”
Homeless protesters said they aren’t going anywhere until the no camping ordinance is changed.
FOR VIDEO AND COMMENTS GO TO: http://www.kcra.com/news/1-
MORE STORIES AT http://www.capradio.org/news/